Weighing-machine.



W. W. ROSENFIELD.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 9. 1907 939,747. Patented Nov. 9, 1,909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

w. w. ROSENFIELD.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9.1907.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W, m U.

W. W. ROSENFIELD.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9,1907.

939,747. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

W. W. ROSENFIELD.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1907.

o W 9M M01 11 WM 6. m $0M m fi m [fies Z X UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. ROSENFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N: Y., ASSIGNOR TO BOSENFIELD MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WEIGHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates especially to weighing machines, and moreparticularly to weighing machines in which the indicating means isnormally locked or held against operation and is operable only on theperformance of some act, such as the insertion of a coin or check.

The invention has been made especially with the idea of providing animproved weighing machine adapted to operate only on the insertion of acoin or check, that is, a machine of the general class known as coinoperated machines, but features of the invention may be found useful andmay be employed in other weighin machines and in machines other thanweig ing machines.

The invention aims to improve machines of the class referred to, andespecially to provide a machine which will be accurate and reliable inoperation and simple in construction, the movable parts being formed soas to avoidall complicated movements and delicate interconnection ofparts.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detaildescri tion of a coin operated weighingmachineo preferred form embodyingthe various features of the invention, and such a description will nowbe iven in connection with the accompanying drawings showing such amachine. The platform and the platform levers and their casing and thestandard extending upward therefrom are not shown in the. drawings asthese parts may be of any suitable construction.

In the drawings :Figure' 1 is a face view partly broken away of theupper or head portion of the weighing machlne showingointer for'indithedial and the index or eating the we1 ht by pointing to thecorrespondingnum er on the dial scale. Fig.2

is a plan view partly broken away of the head of the weighing machine.-Fig 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 41 is avertical section on line 4: of Fig. 8.

Figs." 5, 6 and 7 are horizontal detail secs tional views on lines 5, 6and"? respectively,

of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 is a detail view of the m def or pointer and the endof the spindle by which it is carried, showing the parts of the index orpointer in their folded* position. Fig. 9 is a front view of theoperative parts shown in Fig. 3, showing the parts in position when aweight is on the scale platform but before the indicating mechanism hasbeen released. Fig. 10 is a similar view, but showing the parts inposition just after the coin has been depositedt and the index orpointer has been moved to indicate the weight of the person or thingbeing weighed.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the head casing which containstheweighing springs and connections and the. indicating mechanism andother operating parts a nd which is preferably of circular form andformed with solid sides and back and with a hinged front 11 formed of aglass plate carried by a circular frame or ring. The dial plate 12 issupported behind the glass front on lugs 13 extending from the sides ofthe casing, being removably secured to such lugs as by means of screws14. When the hinged front of the casing is open, the

dial plate may thus be removed so as to expose all the working partslocated within the casing. In order to permit of the ready removal ofthe dial plate Without necessitating the removal of the index or pointer15 from the spindle 16 by which it is carried and which extends througha central openingin the dial, the index'or pointer is formed of twosections which are pivoted on a pin 17 carried by lugs extending from acap 18 on the end of the spindle 16 and are normally held in theirextended position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 by means of a small spring19,

and which may be turned or folded together against the tension of suchspring 19 to the position shown in Fig. 8. When the pointer is folded inthis position the dialplate having been freed by the removal of thescrews 14, may be readily removed by simply moving the same outward overthe folded pointer. The central portion of the dial plate 13 pref- Ithrou h dental displacement erably formed of a separate plate 20, whichmay be removed without disturbing the outer or main portion of the dialplate. This central part or plate 20 may be removably secured to themain portion of the dial plate in any suitable manner, as by beingformed as shown to overlap the inner edge of the main portion of thedial plate, and being provided with oppositely arranged catches 21 andY22 for extending behind the edge of the main portion of the dial plate,the catch 22 being arranged to be turned, as by means of a screw head 23so as to release the plate 20 at one side and thereby permit that sideof the plate to be drawn forward and the plate then to be moved slightlyedgewise to draw the other catch 21 from behind the edge of the mainportion of the dial plate. The central plate 20 is also preferablyprovided With a positioning big 24: adapted to extend into a suitablylocated notch in the inner edge of the main portion of the dial plate.Obviously the central plate 20 may be left ofi' entirely if desired soas to expose to yiew the working parts within the head casing.

The hinged front 11 is at one side of the casin secured in its closedpositi n by means of a locking bolt 25 which engages a lug 26 extendingfrom the opposite side of the frame of the pivoted front within thecasing when the front is in. its closed position. The bolt 25 is curvedto correspond with the curvature of the side of the casing and extendspreferably hinged as ghown, and is downward within the casing and isprovided with a bent end 27 which extends down into the upper part of achamber 30 formed in a downwardly extending neck of the head casing 10.This portion of the chamber 30 is closed by means of a cover plate 31provided with a suitable lock so that when this cover plate is locked inposition the end 27 of the bolt 25 cannot be reached for unlocking thehinged cover 11. To insure against acciof the bolt 25, the cover plate31 is provided with an inwardly extending lug 32 which when the plate isin position projects into the path of the end 27 of the bolt andprevents withdrawing movement of the bolt until the plate 31 is removed.

Referring now to the operating devices, the weighing springs 10 aresupported from a cross-bar 41 and are connected at their lower ends to across-head 42 to which is connected the draft rod 43 which'extendsdownward through the chamber 30 and the supporting column to theplatform evers, not shown, of the scale. The weighing springs areconnected to the supporting ar 41 by means providing for inde pendentlyadjusting the tension of i the springs, and the supporting'bar is hungfrom the top of the casing by means providing for vertical adjustment ofthe same, as usual. When there is no weight on the platform, thecross-head 42 is held by the springs in its normal position as shown inFig. 3 against stops 44. The cross-head 42 carries a horizontalvertically adjustable plate or disk 45 which acts as a stop for limitingthe downwardmovement of a vertically sliding rack bar for operating theindex or pointer, and another vertically sliding rack bar, which will behereinafter described. This stop plate or disk is preterably carried bya screw stem so that by turuing the disk it may be'raised or lowered relatively to the cross-head as desired. A spring catch 46 serves to holdthe disk in its adjusted position by engaging peripheral notchestherein.

The indicator spindle 16 carries fast there on a pinion 50, which engaed by a rack bar 51 which is mounted to slide vertically betweensuitable guides, the lower end of which rack bar is providedrwith a pin52 adapted to engage the stop plate 45 by which the downward movement ofthe rack bar is limited. The downward movement of the rack bar serves toturn the pinion 50 and indicator spindle 16 and thereby swing the end ofthe index or pointer 15 over the scale of the dial plate. When thecross-head 42 has been drawn downward against the tension of the spring40 by the weight of a person or thing on the scale platform and the rackbar 51 is allowed to move downward under the influence of gravity untilit is stopped by the engagement of its pin 52 with the stop plate 45,the index 15 will then show on the dial scale the weight of the personor thing on the platform.

The downward movement of the indicator rack and rotation of the spindle16 is nor mally prevented by a gravity catch 55 mounted to' engage anotch in a disk 56 fast on the spindle 16.- The position of the catch 55and the notch in the periphery of the disk 56 are such that when thecatch is in the notch the index or pointer 15 will be held at the 0position. The catch 55 is intended to be released by the insertion of acoin, and for this purpose a coin lever 57 is provided, one end of whichextends beneath the open end of a coin chute 58"which is open to thecoin slot 59 located at the upper part of the casin and which lever isbalanced so that.

it w il normally rest in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9. The lever57 and the catch 55 are pivoted on a pin 60, and the weighted end of thecatch is provided with a pin 61 in position to be engaged by the coinlever, so that when the latter is tilted to the position shown in Fig.10, the catch will be thrown out of engagement with the disk 56. When acoin is deposited in the slot 59 it drops will be readily overcome by.the weight and the stop plate 45, a second rack 65 is pro- 'opening 69in the other rack, which opening proper relative position of the rackswhen would after making such rotation become.

' catch out of engagement with the disk 56 [stop plate 45. This rackthus avoids the and replaced. In orderto insure the racks through thecoin chute and hits the end of 1 the lever 57 causing it to move to theposition shown in Fig. 10, thereby throwing the.

and releasing the spindle 16 to permit the same to rotate and the rackbar'51to move downward until stopped by the plate 45. When the coinlever has been moved to the position shown in Fig. '10, the coin willdrop off from the end thereof and the'lever will then turn to its normalposition so as to per mit the gravity catch 55 to return to positionto'engage the notched. edge of the disk 56 when the spindle is rotatedbackward to carry the index back to 0 position by the upward movement ofthe rack bar when the weight is removed from the scale platform and thecross-head 42 allowed to return to its normal position as shown in Fig.3. The catch 55 is preferably pivoted and balanced independently of thecom lever, as shown, so as to provide for a quicker action of the catchthan would be possible if it were rigidly connected with or formed as apart of the coin lever, since the amount of over-balancing of the coinlever is limited to what momentum, of the coin.

In order to avoid lost-motion between the teeth of the indicator rackand the teeth of the pinion 50 and insure the rack teeth always engagingthe same side of the teeth of the pinion when the rack is supported byvided mounted to move vertically and in engagement with the pinion 50.This rack is at all times supported solely by the teeth of the pinionand thereby acts to take up all lost motion between the indicator rackand the pinion whenever and in whatever position the iiidicator rack issupported by the necessity of providing a spring for placing theindicator spindle under tension.

The racks 51 and 65 are guided by means of upper and lower pins 66carried by upper and lower pairs of lugs 67 and removable so as topermltthe racks to be readily removed being always replaced in properrelative position, one of the racks, as 51', is provided with a pin 68which extends through an is slightly lar er than the pin so that whilethe racks wil be entirely free from each other when in. position, theinsertion of the pin in the opening will serveto secure the placed inengagement with the pinion.

If the rack, bar 51 were allowed to move downward a sufiicient distanceto cause a complete rotation of the disk 56, the disk locked by thecatch 55 and the spindle and index would be prevented from returning tonormal position. A stop is therefore provided to prevent further forwardrotation of the spindle and downward movement of the rack bar 51 beforethe spindle and disk has made a complete rotation, that is, when theindex has been swun .around to the position indicating three hun edpounds on the dial scale as shown. Suchstop is formed as shown by a pin62 projecting from the rack bar 51. in position to engage one of theupper lugs 67 and thereby prevent further downward movement of the rackbar. when the. index has reached the three hundred pou ds marl: on theindex scale.

A' stop is also provided for limiting the upward movement of the rackbar51 on the return of the cross-head 42 to normal position. 7 When the Weilit is suddenly removed from the scale platForm, the cross-head returnsto its normal position against the stops 44 with considerable force, anda stop is therefore provided to limit the upward movement of the rackbar 51-and corresponding movement of the parts with which it isconnected. As shown, the end 63 of the pin 52 projects from the rack bar51 below one of the lower lugs 67 and is ada ted to engage such lug whenthe rack bar is t rown a short distance above its normal position.

For the purpose of preventing repeated weighing operations after theinsertion of a single coin, means are provided whereby when thecross-head 42 has been brought to balancing position by a person orthing on the scale platform and the pointer has been allowed to move. toindicating position by the insertion of a coin, any further forwardmovement of the pointer fronr such indicating position or from anyintermediate position to which it has been returned, will be prevented.For this purpose a third rack bar 'iflis provided, mounted to movevertically" in suitable guides and limited in its downward movement bythe stop plate 45 and engaging a pinion 71. carried by a disk 7 2mounted to rotate independently of the spindle 16 on a pin 73, whichpin, as shown, forms thebearing for one end of the spindie 16. This disk72 is provided with ratchet teeth on its periphery pointing in thedirectioii in which the disk is rotated by the downward movement: of therack bar 70. A pawl 74 is, mountedin position to engage the teeth of thedisk 72 and tends to move into engagement therewith but is normally heldclear of the-disk by means of a pin 75 projecting from the upper end ofthe rack bar 51. When the cross-head 42 moves downward, therefore, therack bar will move downward with it and will cause correspondingrotation of the disk -72:- -When a coin is inserted, however. to releasethe indicator spindle and the indicator rack 51 starts on its downwardmovement, the pin 75 frees the pawl 74: and permits it to move intoengagement with the toothed periphery of the disk 72, thereby preventingany further downward movement of the rack bar 70, or at least anymovement greater than that corresponding to the space between theengaging edge of the pawl 74 and the tooth of the disk directly aboveit. The lower end of the rack bar is provided with an offset 76, whichextends beneath the lower end of the rack bar 51, and the lower end ofthe rack bar 51 lies close to, but not in engagement with the offset 76when both rack bars are supported by the stop plate 45, so that if,after the indlcation of the weight of the person or thing on theplatform has been iven, the cross-head 42 is caused to move fartherdownward by additional weight on the platform, further downward movementof the rack bar 51 and a corresponding movement of the pointer will beprevented by the engagement of the end of the rack bar 51 with theofiset 76 of the rack bar 70. Similarly if after an indication of weighthas been obtained, the crosshead 42 is by a change of weight allowed toreturn part-way and then caused to move downward again, the rack bar 51and the pointer will remain about in the position to which they havebeen returned by the upward movement of the cross-head. It is desirablethat the racks 51 and 70 should bear centrally on the stop plate 15, andfor this purpose the offset 76 is preferably formed, as shown, to engagecentrally of the plate and is formed with an opening through which thepin of the rack bar 51 engages the plate.

The operation of the weighing machine is briefly as follows :The partsnormally rest in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, theindicator rack and spindle being locked against movement by the gravitycatch 55, and the crosshead 42 and connected parts being weight on thescale platform, and the rack bar 70 being free to move forward, that is,downward in the vertically arranged machine shown, when permitted so tomove by and for a distance corresponding to the downward or forwardmovement of the cross-head 42 and the stop plate 45. When a person stepson the scale platform, or a thing to be weighed is placed on the scaleplatform, the cross-head 42 is drawn downward and comes to rest in aposition corresponding to the weight ofthe person or thing beingweighed, and the rack bar 70 being supported by the plate 45 movesdownward or torward a corresponding distance, thereby rotating thetoothed disk 72. Acoin being then inserted in the coin slot, dropsthrough the coin chute and strikes the'end of free to move under theinfluence of a dicator spindle is thereby turned to swing the index orpointer 15 into position to indicate on the dial scale the weight of theper son or thing being weighed. As the indicator rack starts to movedownward, the pin 7 5 carried thereby moves out of engagement with thepawl 74, which pawl being thus released swings into engagement with thetoothed periphery of the disk 72, thereby loclring the rack bar 70against further downward movement. This rack bar being thus lockedagainst downward movement, any subsequent further downward movement ofthe cross-head under the influence of additional weight on the scaleplatform will not be indicated by a corresponding niovement of the indexor pointer, since the ofiset 7 6 of the rack bar 70 will then preventfurther downward movement of the indicator rack bar 51 to correspondwithsuch further downward movement of the cross-head. As the rack bar 70is locked only against downward movement by the engagement of the pawl74: with the free to be moved upward again and does not interfere withupward movement of the cross-head 42 from any position to which it hasbeen accompanied by *the rack bar 70 in its downward movement. if,however, the cross-head moves upward partway from the position ofbalance which it had at the time the coin was inserted and then is moveddownward again, the rack bar 70 will be held from making a secondcorresponding downward movement and will in turn prevent a downwardmovement of the indicator rack bar. It will be impossible, therefore, tobeat theweighing machine and obtain the weight of twoflpersons orarticles in succession for the insertion of a single coin by placing asecond person or article on the platform after the weight of the firstperson or article has been obtained, or by changing the weight on theplatform so as to allow the index to move partway back with theintention of then causing it to move forward again over the dial scale.When the weight is removed from the platform, the cross-head returns toits normal position against the stops 4 1 thereby raising the rack barsand returning the index or pointer to 0 position. When the indicatorspindle'has been turned by the upward movement ofthe rack bar to bringthe index or pointer back to 0 position, the notch in the periphery ofthe disk 56 will be again brought to position opposite the catch 55 andthe end of the catch will then enter the notch to lock the indicatormechanism against operation until another coin is inserted. As theindicator 'rack reaches the end or" its upward movement, its pin- 75will again engage the pawl 74 and move the same out of engagement withthe disk 72 thereby unlocking the rack bar 70 and leaving it free tomove downward when permitted so to move by any vdownward movement of thecross-head 42.

It will be noticed that the disk 56 and the index or pointer 15 are bothrigidly connected to the spindle 16 so that wheneverthe spindle islocked by the catch 55 projecting into the notch of the disk 56, theindex pointer fromthe 0 position for adistancecorresponding to anincrease of ten pounds weight on the scale platform will bring thepointer to the twenty pound point on the dial scale, that is, any weighton the platform up to ten pounds will not cause any movementof theindex, but a twenty pound weight on the platform will cause thainden tomoi/e to indicate twenty pounds on the-dial sca c.

It will be noticed that the means provided for preventing repeatedweighings on the insertionof a coin, or in other words, for

preventing beating the scale, are entirely independent of the indicatingmechanim, and

in the normal weighing operation have no efi'ect on the operation of theindicating mechanism, which latter mechanism is thus leftfree to operatein its intended manner without danger of the accuracy of its indicationsbeing affected by the means provided for preventing the beating of thescale. it will be observed also that the weighing mechanism proper is atall times free to move under the influence of a weight or change ofweight on the scale platform, and there is, therefore, no danger of anypart of the mechanism being injured b any change of weighL on the scaleplat orm when any parts of the mechanism are locked against movement.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact construction, arran ement and combination of parts, as shown, atthat it includes changes and modifications thereof within the claims.

It will be understood also that although the invention has beenillustrated as applied to a weighing machine, features of the inventionwhich may be found applicable to use in other machines are not to belimited to weighing machines.

What is claimed is i. The combination with a movable mem ber, ofindicating means for indicating the amount of movement of said member, asecond movable member for controlling the operationrof said indicatingmeans arranged -to be limited in its forward movement by the firstmovable member, locking means for normally locking said second movablemember against movement, means for operatin the locking means torelease' said secon movable member, a third movable member normally freeto move with and arranged to be limited .in its movement by the firstmovable member, means for locking the third movable member againstforward movement, and means for limiting the forward movement of thesecond movable member beyond a certain position relatively to the thirdmovable member.

2. The combinationwith a movable member, of indicating means forindicating the amonnt of movement of said member, a-sec and movablemember for controlling the operation of said indicating means arrangedto be limited in its forward movement by the first movable member,locking means for normally locking said second movable member againstmovement,- means for operating said locking means to release said secondmovable member, a third movable member normally free to move with andarranged to be limited in it's movement by the first movable member,means controlled by the initial movement of the second movable memberfor locking the third movable member against forward movement, and meansfor limiting the forward movement of the second movable member beyond acertain position relatively to the third movable member.

3. The combination with a weighing mechanism free to operate, ofindicating means, a movable member for controlling the operation of saidindicating means arranged to be limited in its forward movement byzapart of the weighing mechanism, locking means for normally locking saidmovable member against movement, means for operating the locking meansto release said movable member, a second movable member normally free tomove with and arranged to be limited in its movement by said part of theweighing mechanism, means for locking the second movable member againstlorwar movement, and means for limitin the forward movement of the firstmovab e member beyond a certain position relatively to the secondmovable member.

4. The combination, with a weighing mechanism free to operate, ofindicating means, a movable member for controlling the operationcof saidindicating means arranged to be limited in its forward movement by apart of the weighing mechanism, a locking means for normally lockingsaid movable member against movement, means for op means for limitingthe forward movement of' the first movablemember beyond a certainposition relatively to the second movable member.

5. The combination with a movable member, of -ind'1cating means forindicating the amount of movement of said member, a pinion connectedwith said indicating. means, a sliding. rack bar for moving-inengagement with said inion for controlling the operation of saidndicating means, said sliding rack bar beinghrranged to be limited in-its forward movement by said movable member, locking means for normallylocking said rack bar against movement, means for operating the-lockingmeans to release said rack bar, a second movable member normally free tomove with the first movable member, means controlled by the movement ofthe rack bar for locking the second movable member against forwardmovement, and means for limiting the forward movement of the rack barbeyond a certain position relatively to the second movable member.

6. The combination with a movable member, of indicating means forindicating the amount of movement of said member, a second movablemember for controlling the operation of said indicating means arrangedto be limited in its forward movement by the first movable member, athird movable member normally free to move with the first movablemember, means controlled by the movement oftthe second movable memberfor locking the third movable member against forward movement, and meansfor limiting the forward movement of the second movable member beyond acertain position rela tively to the third movable member.

7 The combination with a movable member, of indicating means forindicating the amount of movement of said member, a sec- 0nd movablemember for controlling the operation of said indicating means arrangedto be limited in its forward movement by the first movable member, athird movable member normally free to move with the first movablemember, a rack and pawl adapted to lock the third movable member againstforward movement, said rack and pawl-being .normally disengaged, meanscontrolled by the movement of the second movable-memberfor causingoperative engagement of said rack and pawl for locking the third movablemember against forward movement, and means for limiting the forwardmovement of the second movable member beyond a certain positionrelatively to the third movable member.

8 The combination with a movable member, of an indicatingspindle 16,pinion 50 fast on the indicating spindle, sliding rack 51 mounted tomove in engagement with the pinion 50 and arranged to be limited in. itsdownward movement by said movable member, pinion 71 and disk 72 mountedto r0- tate independently of the spindle 16, sliding rack bar 7 0mounted to slide in engagement with the pinion 71 and arranged to belimited in its downward movement by said movable member, ratchet teethon the disk 7 2 to lock the rack bar against downward movement, meansfor locking the rack bar 51 in normal position, means for releasing therack bar 51 to permit it to move downward until stopped by said movablemember, means for holding the pawl 74 out of engagement with the disk 72when the rack bar 51 is in its normal position, and an offset on one ofsaid rack bars for engaging the other of said rack bars for limiting thedownwar movement of the rack bar 51 beyond a certain position relativelyto the rack bar 70.

9. A head casing for weighing machines and the like, having a hingedfront formed of a frame and a transparent plate carried thereby, saidfront being hinged at one side of the casing, a lug extending from theside of the front frame opposite the hinge, a curved locking boltmounted within the casin'g one end of which is ada ted to engage saidlug and the other end of which locking bolt extends downward into achamber formed by the neck of the casing, said chamber, and a lockeddoor for preventing access to said chamber.

10. The combination with a movable member, of indicating means forindicating the amount of movement of said member, a second movablemember for controlling the operation of the indicating means arranged tobe limited in its movement by the first movable member, a third, movablemember free to move with and arranged to be limited in its movement bythe first movable member, and means interposed between the secondmovable member and the third movable member for preventing furtherforward movement of the second movable member an indication has beenobtained.

11. The combination with a movable mempawl 74 for engaging ber, ofindicating means for indicating the amount of movement of said member, a

second movable member for controlling the operation of the indicatingmeans arranged to be limited in its movement by the first movablemember, a third movable member free to move with and arranged to belimited in its movement by the first movable member, and means connectedwith ,the second and third movable members and controlled by themovement of one of said members for locking the other of said membersagainst forward movement to prevent further forward movement of thesecond member after an indication has been ob- WILLIAM W. ROSENFIELD.\Vitnesses:

A; WHITE, A. L. KENT.

